Oil-gage for lamps



(No Model.)

T. A. MOGOVERN.

OIL GAGE FOR LAMPS.

No. 475,967. Patented May 31, 1892.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. MCGOVERN, OF BOLINAS, CALIFORNIA.

OIL-GAGE FOR LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,967, dated May 31,1892.

Application filed June 24. 1891.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. MCGOVERN, a citizen of the United States,residing at B0- linas, Marin county, State of California, have inventedan Improvement in Oil-Gages for Lamps and I hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device which I call an oil-gage and which isespecially adapted for use upon lamps or lanterns having opaque sides.

It consists of a vertical transparent tube open at each end, a casingwithin which the tube is secured and by which it is attached to theinner side of the lamp-reservoir opposite an opening through which itmay be inspected, and a slide for closing said opening at will.

It also relates to certain details of construction, which will be morefully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 shows the lower part of a lantern with my gage attached to it.Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the gage. Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection of the same.

A is a lamp or lantern reservoir, which is usually made of tin or othermetal, so that the contents of the lamp are not visible from theoutside. Lanterns which are used by railroad men and others often causeannoyance by going out from lack of oil and at aconsiderable distancefrom the source of supply.

My invention is designed to allow the ready inspection of the quantityof oil contained in a lantern, so that the person will be enabled totake a lantern which is full and also to know when it is necessary toreplenish without the necessity of taking off the top.

In the side of the oil-reservoir A is made a vertical slot or opening B.

O is a metal casing, made square or other convenient shape and havingflanges D, by which it may be soldered or otherwise attached to theinterior of the reservoir-chamber A.

The casing O is adapted to contain a transparent tube E, the upper andlower ends of which project slightly above and below the $crial No.397,381. 'No model.)

top and bottom, respectively, of the casing, but not enough to come intocontact with the top and bottom of the lamp-reservoir. Around this tubeis filled in plaster-of-paris or any cement which will retain it inplace. That portion of the casing which stands opposite the opening B inthe side of theoil-reservoir has a corresponding opening made in it, andthe cement used for holding the tube in place in the casing is notfilled into this opening, thus leaving the tube visible from theexterior at any time. The cement, however, makes a sufficiently tightjoint around the tube to prevent any oil escaping through the openlug.

Upon the outside of the lamp-reservoir are fixed the guides G, andbetween these guides the slide H is fitted, having a curvaturecorresponding with that of the exterior of the reservoir and aprojecting lug by which it may be moved so as to cover the opening B orexpose it at will. In ordinary use this opening will remain covered, sothat the transparent tube cannot be injured by accident; but when it isdesired to inspect the same it is only necessary to push the slide back,and as the oil flows freely into the lower end of the tube E it willstand as high in the tube as it does within the body of the reservoir,and thus indicate the condition of its con tents.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lamp or lantern, the reservoir having the vertical slot made inone side, a casing having a corresponding slot made in the front andmeans whereby it may be secured to the interior of the reservoir andopposite the opening therein, and a vertical transparent tube fittingthe casing and surrounded by a cement, whereby it is retained in placeand the joints are packed to prevent leakage through the opening in theside'of the reservoir, substantially as herein described.

2. In a lamp or lantern, a reservoir having a vertical slot made in oneside, a casing with means for attaching it to the inner side of thereservoir, said casing having a slot corresponding with that in thereservoir, a vertical transparent tube open at both ends, fixed in the.casing so as to expose one side through the openings, and a slidingprotecting gate or cover movable in guides upon the outside of thereservoir, whereby the opening and tube may be exposed or protected,substantially as herein described.

THOMAS A. MOGOVERN.

\Vitnesses:

S. H. NOURSE, H. F. ASOHECK.

